Us Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center News

The Crowley Maritime Corp. tugboat 'Explorer' has been awarded a letter of commendation from the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) for assisting a stricken vessel 30 miles west of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, in December. Crowley crewmembers quickly responded to the 20-foot vessel, which had run out of fuel, providing the crew of two with water, life jackets, flashlights and a hand-held radio until the Coast Guard arrived to provide further assistance. Crowley’s Andrew Legge…

On January 6, 2002 at approximately 3:46 a.m., COMSAT Mobile Communications' Southbury, Conn. earth station received an Inmarsat-C "Man Overboard" distress call from Akademikis Zavarickis operating in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Equador. Responding to the call was COMSAT operator Joe Wheelahan, who contacted the ship on via an Inmarsat satellite voice call and connected them with the U.S. Coast Guard's Rescue Coordination Center in Norfolk, VA. Norfolk subsequently passed the information onto RCC Ecuador. A little more than three hours later, the man overboard was located and was returned safely to the vessel. COMSAT mid shift operator Wheelahan's quick response contacting Akademikis Zavarickis via voice communications and then connecting the ship with coast guard's RCC in Norfolk…